“I asked him, did you have any idea that she was a spy? He said, I had no idea that she was a spy, and I really believe him,” Trump told reporters.

Trump also confirmed that the FBI was investigating aspects of the case but expressed confidence that Huang would emerge without serious consequences.

Huang has acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife. US media identified the woman as Alice Huang, who is unrelated to the Nvidia chief and reportedly served as managing director of Singapore-based Megaspeed, a company with business ties to Nvidia.

Media reports have alleged that she passed sensitive intelligence and helped facilitate the smuggling of advanced AI chips.

China has rejected the espionage allegations, describing them as “groundless slander and smears”.

Speaking during political consultations in Jerusalem on Thursday, Herzog warned that the announcement raised serious questions about Israel's security arrangements with the United States .

He also stressed the need to form a government rather than hold another election , citing the importance of maintaining relations with Washington.

"It worries me greatly, and it came upon us like a bolt from the blue. We have an MOU with the United States that is supposed to remain in force through 2028. This is one of the major objectives, and it is precisely why we need to form a government rather than go to another election. The entire issue is the United States," Herzog said.

The announcement followed Trump's statement on Tuesday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed months earlier to end approximately $4 billion in annual US military assistance by the end of 2026.

Trump argued that Israel no longer needed the financial support, although he said the country could continue purchasing American weapons.

However, uncertainty remains over when the assistance would actually stop.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Thursday that Washington was seeking clarification on whether the funding would end immediately or after the existing agreement expires in 2028.

The current $38 billion memorandum of understanding between Israel and the United States covers fiscal years 2019 to 2028.

Under the agreement, Israel receives $3.8 billion annually in military assistance, subject to approval by the US Congress.

Yashar party representative Shaul Meridor warned that ending the funding without sufficient preparation could disrupt Israel's defence budget and military procurement plans.

"This is not how a normal country is run. Beyond the dramatic security crisis and the major economic crisis, this is not something that can happen overnight. It will have a dramatic impact both on the upcoming budgets and on the way the IDF plans its procurement," Meridor said.

Israel's Defence Ministry had previously announced discussions in June about developing a new arrangement with Washington.

The proposed framework would gradually move away from direct military assistance towards joint investment in defence research, development and production.

The uncertainty surrounding US military aid comes as Israel continues negotiations to form a new government following its parliamentary election.

Parties representing 67 lawmakers have recommended Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government, compared with 46 supporting Netanyahu.

Herzog said he planned to assign the mandate on Sunday, although the recommendations do not guarantee that either candidate can secure enough parliamentary support to establish a governing coalition.

Speaking at the fourth International Conference on Eurasian Security in Minsk on Tuesday, Lukashenko said Trump's actions, despite sometimes appearing contradictory, had helped prevent the conflict from developing into a wider global war.

"Through his actions, however contradictory they may be, Trump has essentially been keeping, and is still keeping, the world from a Third World War, which could erupt into a nuclear conflict," Lukashenko said.

The Belarusian president argued that Trump's attempts to end the fighting in Ukraine deserved support, regardless of the motivations behind his decisions.

He warned that failure to stop the conflict could have consequences extending far beyond Ukraine and Europe.

"If we do not stop and instead follow the path of escalation, we will definitely end up in a Third World War," he warned.

Lukashenko also cautioned that geographical distance would offer little protection in the event of a nuclear confrontation, saying countries separated from Europe by an ocean would not necessarily be safe.

Beyond the conflict in Ukraine, the Belarusian leader criticised international organisations, including the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

He accused the institutions of failing to prevent conflicts and uphold international law.

Lukashenko called for renewed international dialogue and cooperation, arguing that the parties involved would eventually have to reach an agreement.

"We will have to come to an agreement sooner or later anyway. But it is better, much better, sooner rather than later," he concluded.

Speaking at a rally in Salina on Sunday, Trump revisited his decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America", saying Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had been "a little disturbed" by the move.

He then suggested that his naming ambitions could extend to other major waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

"I have a lake, I have a gulf . I need a river and an ocean, and maybe a strait. So I'm going to call the Hormuz Strait the Trump Strait, if you don't mind. And I think the jihadists won't have much of a problem. They'll love that," the president added.

Trump also turned his attention to the Atlantic Ocean, suggesting that the name "American Ocean" would be more suitable because of its proximity to Washington compared with the Pacific .

He claimed to have contacted Google about the idea and recounted a conversation with the company's chief executive, Sundar Pichai.

"I wrote a little note to Google, what about the Atlantic Ocean? And I got a call from Sundar, the brilliant head of Google. He said, 'President, this is enough oceans, we can't do. You can't do that,'" Trump shared.

According to Trump, Pichai raised concerns about the number of countries affected by such a change.

"He said, 'Don't do it, President, please. That covers 27 different countries. You're driving me crazy.' I said, 'I was only kidding. I was only kidding,'" he continued.

The remarks followed Trump's earlier decisions to rename the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario for US federal use.

Those changes drew objections from neighbouring Mexico and Canada.

“I didn't endorse in Brazil. I thought I'd stay out of that one,” Trump said. “The end result, you know, it's fine, the end result. But the way they got to the end was terrible.”

Trump also expressed support for defeated presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, describing them as “fine people” and saying he would approve their entry into the United States .

Washington has already confirmed plans to grant US visas to Bolsonaro and his family, amid growing uncertainty over the senator's whereabouts.

Brazilian electoral authorities declared Lula the winner with 51.79% of valid votes, compared with Bolsonaro's 48.21%, a margin exceeding 4.4 million votes.

Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat, alleging electoral fraud. He also faces investigations into alleged corruption , money laundering and tax evasion, accusations he denies.

Speaking in an interview with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO , published on Thursday, Zelensky accused the US president of unfairly blaming him instead of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The president decided to blame me for this problem instead of Putin, telling his people that diesel prices in America were rising because of it. That is absolutely not true. And I don’t understand it. I have a good relationship with President Trump , and I think it’s wrong and unacceptable for him to pin this on me," he said.

His remarks come amid growing disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine's military operations and US support for the country.

Over the past two weeks, Trump and Zelensky have repeatedly clashed over several issues, including allegations that the United States restricted intelligence-sharing and Starlink satellite services .

Ukraine accused Washington of cutting access to the services, but the White House denied the allegations.

Trump has also suggested that Ukraine should have a new president, further exposing tensions between the two leaders.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts involving Washington and Moscow have continued.

On Wednesday, US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg for discussions.

Following the meeting, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov suggested that the next stage of negotiations could involve a trilateral meeting at "expert level", potentially in Abu Dhabi.

The installation, erected inside a giant billboard in the Iranian capital's busy Tajrish Square, features a performer wearing a Trump mask, dark suit and red tie.

On Wednesday, crowds gathered around the display, with some taking photographs as the impersonator paced inside the cell.

The installation carries a Persian slogan reading "It is a crime not to see this scene".

According to organisers, the performance is intended to run continuously, allowing members of the public to view the display at any time.

The installation has also drawn reactions from residents, some of whom expressed strong criticism of the American president.

"I honestly thought, 'Bravo to whoever came up with this idea!' I really can’t stand this man. I don’t even know what to call this creature. He makes me sick, and I sincerely hope he’s gone soon," one local said.

Another resident interpreted the display as a symbolic representation of what they believed could happen to Trump.

"I believe this is exactly how things will end for him. Someone who behaves like a dictator and commits injustices against other countries, including Palestine and Iran, will eventually face the consequences," added a second.

The public installation comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Iran and the United States following months of military confrontation.

Tensions escalated on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran , prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israeli targets and American military facilities across the region.

Diplomatic attempts to resolve the confrontation have since encountered disagreements over security arrangements and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The mock prison display remains open to public view in Tajrish Square, with organisers planning to continue the performance around the clock.

That earlier visit sparked controversy after Israel’s Central Elections Committee ordered Netanyahu to remove a video of the appearance from his personal social media accounts, ruling that it contained elements of election propaganda. US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu’s re-election bid on Sunday.

Speaking at a rally in Ohio on Monday, Trump claimed that nobody wanted to become Iran's president, raising questions about who Washington could engage with as diplomatic talks appear to have stalled.

"They got no leaders even. That's why probably we might have gone too far with the leaders, because we don't know who the hell we're dealing with anymore. Nobody wants to be the president of Iran . They have phone calls. Who would like to be the president? Nobody. I don't want it," he claimed.

Trump suggested that the extent of US actions against Iranian leaders had made further diplomatic engagement difficult.

"We're having a hard time figuring out who the hell to deal with, to be honest with you. I think we went too far Bernie, could have stopped at level one; level two and a half was probably going too far," he added.

His remarks come as negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear to have stalled despite earlier diplomatic efforts.

Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June, but disagreements have continued.

Last month, Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz within seven days.

The US president has also ruled out further attacks ahead of the US midterm elections.

Speaking on Monday ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Kallas responded to Trump's criticism of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which he linked to rising fuel prices.

"By putting pressure on Russia , it is actually possible to bring this war to an end. By putting pressure on Ukraine, the aim is to make Ukraine somehow surrender," she said.

Her remarks followed Trump's announcement over the weekend that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate "energy ceasefire".

The US president also called for Ukraine to have a "new president" after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Washington's latest diesel agreement with Russia.

Zelensky initially said the reported ceasefire was " news to him" before later describing it as "good news".

However, he subsequently accused Russia of violating the arrangement. Moscow has not commented on the allegation.

The dispute comes after Washington and Moscow reached a diesel agreement on Friday.

Trump had repeatedly urged Kyiv to stop targeting Russian refineries, arguing that the attacks were contributing to rising fuel prices.

Kallas maintained that greater pressure on Moscow, rather than Kyiv, was necessary to bring the conflict to an end.

Trump said preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon had also reduced what he described as a wider threat to the Middle East, Europe and the United States .

"Iran will never have a nuclear weapon; that's a very big thing because if you want to see turmoil and a travesty, let them take out a city with a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

"There'd be no Middle East . And then the rockets and the bombs would start coming our way and Europe's way. And I stopped it," he added.

Trump's comments come as disagreements between Washington and Tehran continue over the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of restarting talks.

On Saturday, Trump confirmed that the United States had rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations with Washington.

Tehran has maintained that its conditions must be met before the strategic waterway can be reopened.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the two leaders had discussed China-US relations as well as wider global issues during their talks.

"The two heads of state held in-depth exchanges of views on major issues concerning China-US relations as well as world peace and development, and reached a series of important consensuses, including the joint building of a constructive and stable relationship between the two countries based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity," Guo said during a press conference in Beijing.

Xi visited the US from September 23 to 25, where he held talks with Trump at the White House. The two leaders also toured the US National Archives.

According to Beijing, the two countries agreed to support each other as they prepare to host major international meetings.

"Both sides agreed to support each other in successfully hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Leaders' Summit. China stands ready to work with the US to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations," Guo added.

Trump described the visit as having made 'great strides', while Xi said the talks had added new substance to a "constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability", based on respect, fairness and reciprocity.

Xi's three-day visit also included military flyovers, ceremonial events and a state dinner.

Despite the agreements reached during the visit, major differences between Washington and Beijing remain over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and China's ties with Iran.

During a press conference after the meeting, Zelensky was also seen repeatedly touching his nose and face and sniffing. Similar behaviour was observed during his bilateral meeting with Trump .

The Ukrainian leader was responding to questions from reporters about his discussions with the US president and whether Trump had shifted his position towards Ukraine.

"He wants to end the war and he mostly spoke with me and we with our teams about it yes, he said that he will do everything to help the end the war."

A reporter then asked Zelensky whether he was prepared to meet Putin alongside Trump.

"So you're prepared to meet President Putin in a trilateral meeting?" he was asked.

"I'm ready," Zelensky replied.

The High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is taking place in New York from September 22-28, with around 130 heads of state and government in attendance.

“When Trump speaks of terrorism, he speaks of state terrorism,” Lula said. “Who did that? It was Bolsonaro, when he tried to stage the coup of 8 January. That is terrorism.”

Lula also referred to the “Green and Yellow Dagger” plan drafted by retired general Mario Fernandes, a former official in Bolsonaro's government. According to investigators, the document envisaged killing then president-elect Lula, vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

Despite questioning the US designation, Lula compared the impact of criminal groups on communities to terrorism, citing extortion and restrictions imposed on residents.

“Those criminals are terrorists for the families who live in the neighbourhood,” he said.

Lula said organised crime had expanded its presence across Brazil's major cities and that authorities would focus first on disrupting criminal groups' logistics and movement before seeking to regain control of affected territories.

Public security has become a major issue ahead of Brazil's October 4 presidential election. Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, among his main opponents. An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll published on September 17 put Lula at 44.1% and Flavio Bolsonaro at 41.7% in a first-round scenario; the survey had a one-percentage-point margin of error.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, Trump linked the timing of a possible end to the conflict to the upcoming election.

"I think the war is going to end immediately after the election ," he said, referring to the November US midterms. "I think the war will end immediately after the election. Because they can't hold out any longer."

Trump also accused Iran of trying to influence the US election by continuing the conflict.

"They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon. All they want is a nuclear weapon. And if they had a nuclear weapon, the whole world is in deep trouble," Trump added.

During the same exchange with reporters, Trump revealed that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.

Asked, "Can you tell us about your conversation with President Putin?" Trump described the discussion positively.

"We had a great conversation. He is wanting to make a deal. And if Zelensky is wanting to make a deal, that would be very nice," he added.

Asked about the possibility of a trilateral meeting, Trump said: "It could happen. We had a good conversation. It could happen."

The two presidents reportedly discussed the recent visits to Moscow and Kiev by Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Trump had stressed his desire to see the Ukraine conflict brought to an end quickly.

"Trump clearly emphasised the desire to see the conflict end as soon as possible, which would immediately open up impressive and far-reaching prospects for fully restoring relations between the United States and Russia. In his view, this would have a particularly significant impact on trade and economic ties, bringing enormous benefits to both countries."

Putin held more than three hours of talks on Ukraine with Witkoff and Kushner in Moscow on Saturday. The US envoys travelled to Kiev the following day, where they met Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said Iran had been close to completing the weapon when the US detected it.

"They were trying to build a rocket that drops mines. Who does that? Did you ever build a rocket that dropped? I never heard of such a thing. But that's what they were doing. They were building it. It was almost finished, so we took it out. We saw that they were building it. We see everything that they're doing. They can't move," he said.

Trump then made a striking claim about the extent of US surveillance of Iran.

"They can't go to the bathroom without us seeing it. So we saw that. We took it out," he added.

His remarks came after the US and Iran exchanged strikes this week for the first time in a month.

US forces said they struck Iranian military targets around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards US bases and other sites across the region.

Iran also accused the US of striking a wedding party in Sirik, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Washington denied targeting civilians.

"I do have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un, as you know, you've seen. He didn't like Biden. He didn't like Obama. He didn't like anybody, but he likes me. And I like, you know, I just got along with him very good. We had great meetings. We speak. And I think our nation and I think other nations, frankly, whether it's Japan or South Korea, they're a lot safer if I'm president than if somebody else is president," he said.

Trump also discussed South Korea after scaling back military exercises with the country.

"I was not happy when South Korea said, no, they're not interested in helping us with the Hormuz Strait," Trump continued. "And yet they get 60 percent of the oil from the Hormuz Strait. I said, would you like to help us? He said, 'No, thank you'. I said, 'That's nice. Please, thank you'. He made us a lot of money. I didn't like that. So I felt that to do a massive, we were doing a massive war exercise. I thought that was very insulting to somebody that, frankly, has been, during my term at least, very well behaved."

Trump said on Sunday that he would reduce military exercises with South Korea shortly before the latest drills were due to begin.

His decision followed a dispute over South Korea and other US allies not helping with Iran as much as Trump expected.

"As in the past, the Strait of Hormuz is under the full management and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and no commercial or oil tanker has had, nor will have, the possibility of secure transit through this strait without the permit and supervision of Iran's powerful armed forces," Zolfaghari said.

"The proud armed forces of Islamic Iran are monitoring all the movements of the American-Zionist enemies in the region," he added, saying Iran would respond to any threat at any level.

US President Donald Trump said Washington had "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz and warned that Iran could be "blown away" if Tehran chose to escalate.

Trump's remarks came as Iran said the waterway would remain closed unless Washington accepted its conditions for ending the conflict.

Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei said those conditions included the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to conflicts elsewhere in the region, including Lebanon and Gaza.

"There is an official over there who does not like Brazil or Latin America and who is a Bolsonarist: the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He does not like us," Lula said.

Lula also referred to Rubio's Cuban heritage, describing him as "perhaps a frustrated Latin American because his family left Cuba" and claiming the US secretary of state "hates Cuba, hates Colombia and hates Brazil."

The remarks come after Washington imposed a 25 per cent tariff on many Brazilian goods in July, followed by an additional 12.5 per cent levy linked to US measures against countries it says do not adequately restrict imports made with forced labour. Some products are exempt.

Lula said he learned of the latest tariff increase through the media and claimed it would leave Brazil with a $7.4 billion shortfall.

Trump said the initiative would help remove what he described as unqualified migrant drivers from US highways, claiming they had been involved in reckless driving that caused preventable deaths.

He also said more than 24,000 driver's licences issued to non-English speakers had been revoked, while over 28,000 licences issued to what he described as "illegal aliens" had been cancelled.

According to the White House, the programme will be jointly run by the Departments of Transportation , Veterans Affairs, Labour and War.

Hernandez arrived at Palmerola International Airport in Comayagua, where he was welcomed by relatives and supporters before addressing a public gathering at Finca Rocio.

"I tell you no, do not be afraid. I come with a heart full of hope, humility, gratitude. I come to be one more Honduran who builds, who creates," Hernandez told the crowd.

During his speech, the former president praised Trump, describing him as the "best-informed president in the world ." He also said Trump had referred to the case against him as "a witch hunt" and "the use of justice as a political weapon."

Supporters also defended Hernandez following his return.

"He was the best president we have had in Honduras and we want him here with us because he is from this land, from Honduras. He should not be anywhere else," one supporter said.

Hernandez was arrested in Tegucigalpa in February 2022 before being extradited to the United States two months later.

In June 2024, a US federal court sentenced him to 45 years in prison after convicting him of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and weapons-related offences.

Trump granted Hernandez a full pardon in December 2025, arguing that the prosecution had been unfair and politically motivated. The pardon led to his release from prison.

Despite the US pardon, Hernandez still faces legal proceedings in Honduras.

The case, known as Pandora II, involves allegations that nearly $11 million in public funds was diverted to finance political campaigns between 2010 and 2013. Hernandez has denied accusations of fraud and money laundering.

He was not arrested upon arrival because a Honduran judge temporarily suspended an arrest warrant and an Interpol red notice against him in June.

Hernandez has agreed to appear before a judge on August 3, when he is expected to be formally questioned over the allegations.

"As I said three months ago, the show must go on," Trump said. "We were backstage, and we both wanted to just have it go on, whether it was 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock in the morning, it didn't matter. But in the end, it made more sense to do it the way we're doing it."

The rescheduled event was held under heightened security , with Trump saying lessons had been learned from the attack.

"A lot was learned from that evening. A tremendous amount was learned about security and about other things," he said. He later joked that "the second time is always better" before adding that he was "only kidding."

The original dinner was abandoned in April after an armed man allegedly opened fire near a security checkpoint, prompting the evacuation of Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials.

The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was charged with four counts, including attempted assassination of the president, and pleaded not guilty in May.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said the United States was maintaining pressure on Tehran and insisted Iran could not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

"We're doing very well against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We're doing extremely well. They would like to do something, but I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They're not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Earlier, Trump told one media outlet he was considering a "massive attack" that would be "bigger than ever before" and said he was "close to making a decision."

A Pakistan-brokered Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the United States and Iran in June to halt the war that began on February 28.

Despite the agreement, fighting has resumed, with Washington carrying out repeated strikes on Iranian targets while Tehran has launched attacks on US assets across the region.

During a joint press briefing on Tuesday, Trump was asked whether he remained in contact with Hezbollah following remarks he had made in previous interviews .

"Are you still speaking with Hezbollah? You said in previous interviews that you were speaking with Hezbollah..." he was asked.

"Well, I don't want to say that, but I would speak to Hezbollah, yeah. I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to and things work out. I would say this, if the President wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, you know, he's lived with Hezbollah for a long time. And if the President wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, I would," Trump replied.

The meeting between Trump and Aoun comes as both sides discuss the 14-point Israel-Lebanon framework agreement brokered by the United States last month to reinforce the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has rejected the proposal, describing it as "futile" and "humiliating" for Lebanon.

The first phase of the agreement's "pilot zones" initiative is already underway, with Israeli forces withdrawing from some parts of Lebanon while the Lebanese Armed Forces move in to take control.

Israel said the Israel Defence Forces "will adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas in order to enable the Lebanese Armed Forces to carry out their mission, while safeguarding the security of IDF soldiers and preserving its right to self-defence and to remove threats."

The Israeli government also said its forces would remain inside the 10-kilometre "security zone" in southern Lebanon for "as long as necessary to defend the communities of northern Israel."

Aoun is expected to urge Trump to press for a full Israeli withdrawal from the remaining Lebanese territory and support the Lebanese Armed Forces in taking control of areas where Hezbollah maintains a strong presence.

Speaking on Sunday, Trump said the latest military action was intended to honour US troops killed during recent attacks in the Middle East .

"We control the strait [of Hormuz]. They don't control anything. So we'll see what happens. But we hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honour of the probably three - it's probably three as opposed to two - great patriots," he said.

Trump's remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate.

US Central Command said it launched a "new wave" of strikes for the ninth consecutive night.

Tehran said it responded with what it described as a "surprise attack" in Syria and Jordan.

The latest exchange followed attacks that left US service members dead over the past two days.

On Saturday, one US service member was confirmed killed in an attack in Iraq, while two were reported dead on Friday following a strike on a base in Jordan.

"Do you realise that I spoke at great length and did not mention tariffs ? I am not going to talk about that because the news has to be the SUS. The news has to be our mobile units. The news has to be care for women," he said.

Lula added that he would respond only after Trump personally commented on the measure. "When Trump speaks, I will speak. As long as he does not speak, I will not speak," he said.

"We are going to prove that no one beats Brazil by lying. Either they are more sincere than us or they will not deceive Brazilian society ," Lula added.

The additional tariffs are set to take effect on July 22 and are expected to affect about 18 percent of Brazilian exports to the United States, although coffee, beef, orange juice and some aeronautical components have reportedly been exempted.

Speaking in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, the US president said the intelligence would be released immediately to the public.

"Every American deserves to know that when they cast their vote, that vote will be counted accurately in a system, and that is to make that system secure. One where cheating and interference are not just difficult but virtually impossible. Unfortunately, the system we have today falls catastrophically short of that standard. Tonight, I'm announcing the immediate declassification and release of critical intelligence, revealing shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure," Trump alleged.

He said the documents revealed significant weaknesses that could leave US elections vulnerable to hacking and foreign interference.

"This evidence shows that the election system we have dangerously exposes, and really exposes like levels never thought possible, to hacking and exploitation and foreign interference," he continued.

Trump then accused China of carrying out what he described as the largest breach of election data in US history .

"The documents cover five major areas of concern. First, they show that over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, the People's Republic of China carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China's illicit acquisition of 220 million US voter files," he claimed.

Beijing had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

The US intelligence community has previously concluded that China did not interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

Speaking at the 2026 Defence and Innovation Summit in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Trump said the United States had acted because Iran had failed to comply with its obligations.

"I had to take tough action because they did not obey what they're supposed to obey," he said.

Trump added that he believed the conflict was moving in Washington's favour.

"We'll have Iran defeated soon," he stated.

His remarks came as fighting between the United States and Iran intensified.

Earlier on Wednesday, US Central Command confirmed two additional waves of strikes against Iranian targets.

Tehran responded by saying it "should not be afraid of war or negotiation" and described the Strait of Hormuz as "Iran's invincible red line."

Iran also announced it had launched retaliatory strikes against US targets across the Gulf .

Speaking in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Gharibabadi criticised Trump's approach to international affairs and questioned the US administration's commitment to diplomacy.

"The president that America is currently facing does not recognise international structures, nor international responsibility and rights. He constantly uses offensive language against various countries," he explained.

Gharibabadi said Iran had not entered formal negotiations with the United States, despite technical working groups being established after talks in Switzerland.

"We had not yet commenced negotiations with the US," Gharibabadi continued, adding that technical working groups were established following a meeting in Switzerland, but no sessions have taken place.

He said Tehran cancelled a meeting scheduled for last week, citing what it described as aggressive actions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Iranian territory.

Gharibabadi said Iran informed Washington that it "would not participate in those talks."

Earlier on Wednesday, US Central Command announced overnight strikes against Iran, accusing Tehran of targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also accused Washington of committing "serious violations of the memorandum of understanding," including "attacks on southern Iran."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched strikes against 85 US military targets across the region in response.

Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 that included a ceasefire and the launch of an initial round of negotiations in Switzerland aimed at securing a final agreement.

In recent weeks, both governments have accused each other of breaching the terms of the agreement.

Speaking ahead of talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, Trump said the United States did not require military assistance but wanted to know which allies would stand alongside Washington.

"We didn't need any help at all [...] I was testing people . I was testing to see whether or not they'd be there. Because I'd said that we helped them, but I'm not sure that they'd be there for us," he stated.

Trump claimed several European allies declined to support the United States.

"Italy turned us down. Germany turned us down. France turned us down," he continued. "Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us? We've always been there for them."

Asked whether the United States could reduce its military presence in Europe, Trump said he was dissatisfied with NATO's response during the conflict with Iran.

"I was very disappointed with NATO [...] We weren't treated well because we did something in Iran. We don't need anybody's help. I didn't even want the help," he said.

He also questioned the value of continued US investment in the alliance.

"We've invested trillions of dollars in NATO. Why? To protect European countries and others," he added. "You would think that they'd be very willing to do something to help us."

Trump made the remarks as leaders from all 32 NATO member states gathered in Ankara for a two-day summit focused on defence spending, arms production and support for Ukraine.

His comments shifted attention toward burden-sharing within the alliance and the future of the US military presence in Europe.

Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump argued that the Arctic island was strategically important to US national security , citing the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in nearby waters.

"It was Greenland that, and it continues to be, that should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark. And when they wouldn't go along with it, and with all the money we spent to help them with Russia, and we don't have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe," Trump said.

He also warned European allies to focus on immigration and energy policies.

"If they're not careful with those two things, you're not going to have a Europe anymore," he added.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments have repeatedly rejected the idea of a US takeover, maintaining that the island's future should be determined by the people of Greenland.

Trump's remarks came as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara on July 7 and 8 to discuss defence spending, continued support for Ukraine and the future direction of the alliance.

Speaking about Iran, Trump said his administration's priority remained preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"I went in for one reason very strongly, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said.

Trump also claimed the United States would take possession of Iran's enriched nuclear material.

"We're going to be getting the, as I call it, dust, the enriched material, nuclear dust, I call it. It seems to have taken off, but it's enriched material. We're getting it."

He said lower global oil prices reflected actions taken by the United States and argued that predictions of a sharp increase in oil prices had not materialised.

According to Trump, US naval operations disrupted maritime activity through the Strait of Hormuz by targeting Iranian capabilities.

"So we took them out late at night with no lights, with no nothing, and our great Navy, which did the greatest blockade anyone's ever seen. Not one ship got through in two months."

Trump said the blockade was later eased because negotiations were progressing.

"And we then freed up the blockade because we're close to maybe making a deal. I don't know."

Despite expressing hope for a diplomatic outcome, he warned that military action remained an option.

"Look, we're going to win one way or the other. We're either going to make a deal or we're going to finish the job, okay? And it won't be tough to finish the job."

Trump said he preferred an agreement because he did not want ordinary Iranians to suffer.

"I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people."

He added that the United States had the capability to rapidly strike Iran's critical infrastructure if necessary.

"We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply, all of those big plants that they built, big, beautiful, modern plants."

"We can knock out their electricity and power generating plants in, I would say, a small part of an afternoon. Every plant will be gone. And they know that. They know that."

"We beat Venezuela in one day, and we knocked the hell out of Iran. They're dying to settle. They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral because we're nice," Trump said.

Trump made the remarks while highlighting what he described as America's military strength and global leadership. He also praised the country's achievements over the past 250 years, citing advances in science, technology, culture and space exploration .

"For 250 years, the entire world has looked to our country and been inspired by the leaps of progress, feats of strength, and acts of selflessness, faith, and hope that could only have happened right here," he said.

The president also pointed to US accomplishments ranging from mapping the human genome and landing astronauts on the moon to its influence in music, sports and innovation. He noted that the United States has won the most Olympic medals and Nobel Prizes, before joking that he had yet to receive the prestigious award himself.

Speaking at the opening of the Great American State Fair in Washington DC on Wednesday, Trump described the recent agreement with Iran as a historic breakthrough.

"Last week, we signed a historic agreement to end the conflict with Iran, fully open the Strait of Hormuz, and accomplish what no president has ever been able to accomplish before. Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. That's done," Trump said.

He claimed the agreement had removed a long-standing regional threat.

"Their leadership has been obliterated. And for the first time in 3,000 years, we are finally going to have peace in the Middle East. We're going to have peace in the Middle East," he added.

Trump also praised the US military's recent operations in Iran and Venezuela , suggesting Washington remained prepared to take further action if necessary.

"How good is our military ? One week, Iran was essentially finished. In one hour, Venezuela was finished. And I guess we have other things in store, but we don't want to get carried away," he said.

The remarks came as Trump launched the Freedom 250 celebrations on the National Mall during a rally marking the opening of the Great American State Fair.

The event opens to the public on June 25 and runs until July 10, featuring exhibitions, performances, food, attractions and cultural displays representing all 50 US states and six territories.

The celebrations will culminate on July 4, marking 250 years since the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence.

He also claimed US President Donald Trump had shifted his position on Iran’s nuclear programme, saying Washington had moved from demanding unconditional surrender to acknowledging Iran’s rights. His remarks come as Qatar announced the start of the Lake Lucerne Summit, bringing together US and Iranian representatives with mediation from Qatar and Pakistan. Talks are expected to address a regional ceasefire, navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s nuclear programme, alongside a 14-point memorandum outlining de-escalation measures and a 60-day window for broader negotiations.

"So, certain things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump's statements are completely fabricated statements. I am frankly appalled. I do not know why the President of the United States behaves this way with his own allies," she said.

Meloni also criticised what she described as Trump's approach towards Western partners.

"Besides, it is not the first time this has happened. I can only say that it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West, with the enemies of the United States, with leaderships towards whom he instead proves to be much more accommodating," she said.

"But there is one thing he must remember; Italy and I never beg," she added.

The dispute erupted after Trump told an Italian television network that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the G7 gathering.

"She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," Trump said.

Lula said Trump was free to support the Bolsonaro family but should refrain from attempting to influence Brazil's democratic process.

"As for me, he can keep sympathising with Bolsonaro, with the father, the son, or the grandson. There is no problem at all. That is his business. But do not interfere in Brazil's elections ," Lula said.

The remarks come amid scrutiny over Eduardo Bolsonaro's contacts with US officials. According to Brazil's Supreme Court, the congressman sought support from the US government to influence legal proceedings involving his father and to encourage sanctions and international pressure against Brazil and members of its judiciary.

"If there is anyone who needs to learn from civilised elections in Brazil, it is my friend Trump," Lula said. "I only hope he does not violate the code of ethics among nations that want their sovereignty to be respected," he added.

Lula said he briefly met Trump during the G7 gathering and stressed that relations between the two countries should be based on mutual respect and respect for national sovereignty.

"The only thing I want is the same respect for Brazil that I have for the United States ," he said. The Brazilian president also revealed that he handed Trump a document outlining alleged links between organised crime in Brazil and the United States, arguing that both countries could cooperate more closely to combat criminal networks.

"I gave him everything in writing because I do not want to limit myself to talking; President Trump talks a lot and listens little," Lula said.

[This article was corrected on June 19th, 2026 to remove incorrect details about the upcoming election.]

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump was asked whether growing concerns over visa approvals could affect attendance at the FIFA World Cup.

A reporter pointed to fears that it could become increasingly difficult for people travelling from abroad to enter the United States for the tournament.

Trump began by praising ticket sales for the competition.

"The most successful World Cup they've ever had. They've never sold tickets at that level. They've never sold that many tickets so quickly," he said.

Asked whether he could reassure fans worried about visa access, Trump said the administration was closely monitoring the process.

"Well, we're working on it very closely to make sure the right people come into our country," Trump replied.

The comments come as questions grow over visa decisions involving individuals linked to the World Cup.

Earlier this week, Iran said 15 officials and support staff members connected to its national team had been denied visas to enter the United States.

Separately, Somali referee Omar Artan, one of Africa's leading football officials, was also denied entry. US authorities suggested the decision was linked to "vetting concerns."

The cases have raised concerns about whether visa restrictions could affect participation in the tournament as preparations continue.

Petro further alleged electoral fraud and said he does not recognise the preliminary vote count, while de la Espriella, who led the first round with 43.74% of the vote, called on him to accept the result. Ivan Cepeda secured 40.90%, forcing a second round scheduled for 21 June, when voters will decide the country’s next president after no candidate achieved an outright majority.

“Please, we are begging the government, we want our children back, alive,” pleads Aduke Balogun, a roadside soft drinks and bread seller and the mother of kidnapped eight-year-old Kausarat. “Every day, I pray and hope for their safe return,” she tells Reuters.

The Oyo State incident adds to the ever-growing list of similar cases. In another attack of November 2025, heavily armed gunmen stormed St Mary’s, a Catholic school in Niger state, in the country’s North-Central region, dragging off over 250 students and staff. Although state intervention led to the victims’ rescue, the emotional toll on their parents and the wider public deepened the sense of insecurity and fear.

Weeks earlier, the worsening violence and surging kidnappings had attracted the attention of US President Donald Trump, who called Nigeria “a disgrace”, threatened to halt all aid to Africa’s most populous nation, and to “go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing” if the government didn’t arrest the situation quickly.

Earlier, in March 2024, armed elements kidnapped over 300 students from LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga village, located in Kaduna State. 

Yet, these heart-rending kidnap-for-ransom and armed raids are merely a microcosm of the complex nightmare that Nigeria’s abductions have become – initially prevalent in the country’s northern region but gradually spreading to the south.

The crisis has not only disintegrated social order; scores have lost lives, communities have been displaced and the affected regions’ economies shattered, sowing uncertainty and a cycle of trauma.

Dr Joseph Ochogwu, the Director General for the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution attributes these challenges to structural gaps which manifest in weak rural governments and focusing on capitals while neglecting peripheral areas, which creates a vacuum readily exploited by criminals and terrorists.

The scale of the insecurity points to failures at different levels and suggests that the brutal actors’ capacity and level of sophistication should not be underestimated. The government must address the various dimensions of the problem, particularly the aspects of community engagement. Community policing, as a counterterrorism strategy, has shown great potential in some African countries, such as Uganda and Kenya.

Thus, there is a need for a more robust and coordinated response by Nigeria’s state apparatus, focused on strengthening civil-military cooperation, as this creates opportunities for rebuilding trust and improving the population’s vigilance, which are key ingredients to the success of any anti-terrorism effort.

These measures must be coupled with the government’s renewed commitment to safeguard all its citizens and their property, and to address the deep-seated problems, like social injustice and inequality, across the board.

The article solely represents the views of Simpson Muhwezi, a Ugandan freelance writer and development practitioner.

“In response to this aggression and violation of the Strait of Hormuz regulations, the enemy’s American-Zionist vessel named Panaya was targeted by missiles from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy,” the report stated.

The broadcaster also said the United States had carried out another strike on Iranian infrastructure.

“It is mentioned that the American enemy, in another act of aggression, targeted a telecommunications tower of the Corps in the south of Qeshm Island,” it added.

Iran said it responded by targeting US-linked military sites in the region.

“In response to this aggression, their airbase and helicopter base located in one of the countries in the region, as well as the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet, were subjected to missile and drone attacks by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the report said.

Kuwait’s military said drones struck its international airport, causing “significant” damage. However, US Central Command (CENTCOM) appeared to dispute the extent of the attack.

“Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, and three missiles launched at Bahrain were immediately intercepted by US and Bahrain air defence forces,” CENTCOM said.

US media reported that President Donald Trump had requested changes to the framework of a potential agreement after talks with aides, including issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, the removal of enriched uranium, and negotiations on Iran’s nuclear deal.

Tehran said on Monday, June 1, that the United States was “constantly changing its views and putting forward new or contradictory demands.”

During his trip, Bolsonaro also pushed for tougher US action against Brazil’s major criminal gangs, urging Washington to designate Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organisations — a move later backed by US officials. The proposal has heightened political tensions, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government rejecting the classification, warning that it could raise sovereignty and legal concerns and deepen divisions ahead of the vote.

Milei also claimed that countries like Venezuela are being “liberated” and predicted a future free Cuba, comments that come as Washington increases pressure on Havana through tighter sanctions . While US officials have reportedly considered contingency plans for unrest, Cuba has warned that further escalation could worsen the crisis and lead to serious consequences, even as it signals openness to dialogue.

Footage from the scene showed people arriving as the buffalo was being led away with ropes and loaded onto a pickup truck before most visitors reached the area.

Owner Moniruzzaman said officials instructed him to hand over the animal.

“We have been told that the price of the buffalo will be paid, or an animal of the same value will be given for sacrifice. We brought the buffalo from the farm in Narayanganj three days ago,” he explained.

Some visitors said they managed to briefly see the animal, while others expressed disappointment after missing it.

The buffalo had earlier gained attention across Bangladesh because of its pale tuft of hair, which social media users compared to the hairstyle of US President Donald Trump .

Videos and photographs of the 700-kilogramme animal spread widely online, attracting dozens of visitors daily. The buffalo was described as a “rare species”.

Originally owned by Zia Uddin Mridha in Narayanganj, the buffalo had recently been sold to Moniruzzaman ahead of Eid al-Adha, when Muslims perform Qurbani, the ritual animal sacrifice observed on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.

The decision, outlined in a recent policy update, has immediate implications for families, workers, and migrants across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America.

The suspension primarily affects immigrant visas, meaning individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States are the most impacted. This includes family-sponsored visas, diversity visas, and certain employment-based pathways.

Non-immigrant visas such as tourist, student, and short-term work visas may still be issued in some cases, but the overall message is clear that permanent migration routes into the US are being sharply narrowed.

According to the Trump administration, the move is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls, strengthen national security , and protect domestic employment.

The 75 countries span multiple continents, including Somalia, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Yemen, Colombia, Cuba, Thailand, and Brazil.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people. Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused. At the same time, the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” said Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department.

This latest suspension does not exist in isolation. It follows months of restrictive measures , including travel bans, asylum limitations, and tighter vetting procedures, since Donald Trump returned to office.

Whether the policy will face successful legal opposition or be revised under political pressure remains uncertain. For now, millions of people across 75 countries are left waiting, watching, and recalculating their futures.

Full list of affected countries:

Afghanistan , Albania , Algeria , Antigua and Barbuda , Armenia , Azerbaijan , Bahamas , Bangladesh , Barbados , Belarus , Belize , Bhutan , Bosnia , Brazil , Cambodia , Cameroon , Cape Verde , Colombia , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Cuba , Dominica , Egypt , Eritrea , Ethiopia , Fiji , The Gambia , Georgia , Ghana , Grenada , Guatemala , Guinea , Haiti , Iran , Iraq , Ivory Coast , Jamaica , Jordan , Kazakhstan , Kosovo , Kuwait , Kyrgyzstan , Laos , Lebanon , Liberia , Libya , North Macedonia , Moldova , Mongolia , Montenegro , Morocco , Myanmar , Nepal , Nicaragua , Nigeria , Pakistan , Republic of the Congo , Russia , Rwanda , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , Senegal , Sierra Leone , Somalia , South Sudan , Sudan , Syria , Tanzania , Thailand , Togo , Tunisia , Uganda , Uruguay , Uzbekistan and Yemen .